Curtain-roller.



C. A. GARMANY.

CURTAIN ROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Patented J an. 2,

INVENTOR! WITNESSES 0 A. CARMANY.

CURTAIN ROLLER.

' APPLICATION FILED APR. 7. 1909. 4 1,013,531. Patented Jan. 2, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

6 INVENTOR;

UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS CARMANY, OF COATESVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

CURTAIN-ROLLER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 7, 1909. Serial No. 488,504.

Patented Jan. 2,1912.

' a simple and eflicient means whereby ac'urtain or shade may beattached to the roller.

The ,invention consists in the novel construction and combinations ofparts which will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings :-Figure 1 is a front viewof my improved roller. Fig.2is asimilar view including a window shade or ourtain, and the means forsecuring the curtain or shade to the roller. Fig. 3 is a section,enlarged, on line 3-3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a view of one of the springsforholding the curtain in placeupon the roller. Fig. 5 is a longitudinalsection, partly broken away, of the inner-section of the telescopicrbody portion of the roller and the parts carried thereby. Fig. 6 is aview of the right hand end of the section of the roller shown in Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, with the end head of the rollerremoved therefrom. Fig-8 is a section on line 88 of -Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is aplan view of the right hand end of the section of the roller shown inFig. 5, with the end head of the roller removed therefrom. Fig. 10 is ahorizontal section on line 1 0-10 of Fig. 6. Fig. 11 is a view of partsof the spring-contro1led mechanism for rotating the roller. Fig. 12 is aview of the left hand endof the roller shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 13 is aview of the left hand end of the roller shown in Fig. 1, partly brokenaway. Fig. 14 is a section on line 14-44 of Fig. 13. Fig. 15 is asection on line 1515 of Fig. 12. 2 designates the main body of thecurtain roller, the body being formed in two sections 4 and 6, which arearranged to telescope with each other as I shall presently de scribe.The outer ends of the sections 4: and 6 have secured thereto suitableheads, 7 and 9 respectively. 1

Each of the sections 4 and 6 .of the body 2 undercut portions of thebind and hold the curtain between the of the roller is formed of sheetmetal. The

The section 6 is fitted within the section 4,

the fit between the two sections 4 and 6 bein such as to permit atelescopic adjustment of the two sections for the purpose of shorteningor lengthening the roller as desired, and the frictional engagement ofthe two sections 1 and 6 with each other holding them metal sheetforming eachsection is first bent groove 13 in in their positions ofadjustment. The groove 13 formed in the roller not only serves as anopening into which a curtain, or shade may be inserted and then securedto the roller, but the groove 13 formed by bending the metal also servesas a strengthening or stiffening rib for the entire roll.

Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, 16 designates a part of a curtain, the upperedge portion 17 of which is inserted into the undercut groove 13 in thebody 2 of the roller; and also inserted into the groove 13 are substantally Z-shaped springs 18, each of which comprises two arms 19 and 20,connected by a diagonal part 21, which, when the springs 18 areinsertedintothe undercut groove 13, tends to force the arms 19 and 20 apart andinto the undercut portions of the grooves.

It will thus be seen that by inserting the upper edge portion 17 of thecurtain 16 into the groove 13, and then inserting the springs 18. intothe groove, the arms 19 and 20 of each spring will be forced into the.groove and will springs 18 and the inner wall of the groove. of thesprings 18 Any desirable number may be employed in securing the curtain16 to the roller.

The end head 7 is disk-like in form, as shown, the section etand isprovided with an inwardly-extending flange 22 which extends part wayaround the edge of the end head and terminates in end portions 23having. a space therebetween. The outer ends of the longitudinal edgeportions of the section 4;

and it is arranged within the end of are bent inwardly between and intoengagement with the end portions23 of'the flange 22, in forming theundercut groove 13, as shown'in Fig. 14, thus holding the end head 7 inlace within the section 4. The end head serves as a means to support theouter end-of the section 4 against being colla sed. In order to preventdisplacement o the end head 7 longitudinally of the sectlon 4, 10 theouter end of the edge portion of the metal forming the section4 is bentinwardly as at 24 (Figs. 12 and 15) into enga ement with the outer faceof the end head? 7, and opposite sides of the section 4 are pro- 5 videdwith indentations 25 adjacent the mner face of the flange 22 of the head7. It will thus be seen that the metal displaced by the indentations 25engages the flange 22 in opposition to the inturned portion 24 of thesection 4, to hold the head 7 against displacement longitudinally of theroller. The end head 7 is provided with a central opening 26 therein forthe reception of a plvot pin of a suitable bracket upon which t e endhead 7 of the roller is adapted to be mounted.

In order to support the inner or free overlapping ends of the sections 4and 6 against being collapsed, I provide within the lnner section 6,adjacent the inner end thereof, a suitable block 27 which is held inplace by small nails or brads 28 driven through the metal. forming thesection 6 and into the block 27. p g

The roller is provided with a suitable spring actuated rotating meanswhich I shall now proceed to describe. Extending centrally through thesection 6 of the roller is a shaft 29, the inner end of which extendsinto an opening 30 in the block 27 in a manner to permit the block 27 torotate with the section 6 about the shaft 29. The outer end of the shaft29 extends through a central opening in a head 31 which is adapted torotate about the shaft 29 and which forms an element of thespring-actuated rotatlng means for the roller, as will presently appear.The head 31 is formed of sheet metal which is cut and bent to forminwardly extending arms 32, which are enga ed by one end of a torsionspring 33 the ot er end of which is engaged with the shaft 29 by beingextended through a slot 34 in the inner end of the shaft. The head 31 isarranged within the outer end of the section 6 of the roller, and it isengaged with the inner wall of said section in a manner to prevent thecollapse thereof; and the head 31 also extends into the slot formedbetween the lon- 60 gitudinal edges of the metal forming the section 6in a manner to cause said section and the other parts of the roller,independently of the shaft 29 and the parts carried thereby, to rotatewith the head 31 upon the shaft 29. The outer end of the shaft 29 isflattened, as at 35, and it extends beyond the end head 9 as shown. Thisfiattened end 35 of the shaft 29 is adapted to be inserted into the slotof a bracket of well known construction in the curtain fixture art,which bracket is adapted, as is well known, not only to support theouter end of thef'shaft 29 but also to prevent the rotation thereof bythe engagement of the flattened end of the shaft with the walls of theslot in the bracket. i

The end head 9 is provided with an inwardly extending flange 36, whichsurrounds the outer end of the section 6 of the roller and which alsosurrounds the head 31, re- 30 t aining the outer end of the section 6 ofthe roller in shape between the head 31 and flange 36. The head 9 isarranged in spaced relation to the head 31, and extending from the head31 and into the space formed be- 35 tween the heads 9 and 31 are twopairs of flanges 37, 37 and 38, 38, which extend tangentially withrespect to the shaft 29 and which form pockets 39 and 40. Within eachpocket 39 and 40 is arranged a ball 43, each ball 43 bein adapted toroll within its pocket towar and from the shaft 29. Arranged between thepockets 39 and 40and within the spaces between'the heads 9 and 31, is acollar 41 which is mounted upon the flattened end 35 of the shaft 29 ina manner to prevent the rotation of the collar 41 about the shaft. Thecollar 41 has notches 42 cut therein, forming teeth 44 upon 'the collar.The balls 43 are adapted to engage the teeth 44.0f the collar 41 and theflanges 37 and 38 of the head 31, in a manner to prevent the rotationofthe head under certain conditions, as will be hereinafter explained.

The outer ends of the longitudinal edge portions 'of the section 6 ofthe roller are cut away, forming shoulders 45 (see Fig. 9), againstwhich the inner face of the head 31 rests on one side of the roller,while the inner'face of-the head 31 on the other. side of the rollerrests against the metal displaqed by an indentation 46 in the metalforming the section 6. of the roller (see Fig.

5) and the head 31 is held in place against the shoulders 45 andindentation 46 by the flanges 37 and 38 cut from the metal forming thebody of the head 31 and bent and extended into engagement with the head9,

The head 9 is held in-place with its inner 1 20 face in engagement withthe outer end of the metal forming the section 6 of the roller, byprojections 47 formed on the outer end of the section 6 of the roller,which projections first extend through slots 48 in the head 9 and arethen bent outwardly and then inwardly against the outer face of theflange 36 of the head 9, thus securely holding the head 9 in place. Theends of the spring 33 are so engaged with the head 31 the flattenedouter end oi and the shaft 29that when the roller, supported by thebrackets as hereinbefore described, is turned in the direction of thefull line arrow in Fi 7, the s ring 33 will be wound upon the s aft 29;a er which, when permitted so to do, the spring will, by its own action,rotate the roller in the'direction of the dotted line arrow in Fig. 7.

.. The operation is as follows -Assuming that the head 7 has beenmounted upon the pivot stud of a suit-able bracket, and that the shaft'29 is mounted within the slot of the well known curtain fixture ashereinbefore described, it will be seen that the roller may be rotatedand that the shaft 29 wil'l remain stationary. The curtain 16 is sowound upon the roller that in lowering orunwinding the curtain from theroller, the roller will beturned in the direction of the full line arrowin Fig. 7, and the spring 33 will be wound upon the shaft 29. After thecurtain has been unwound or lowered to the desired extent and isreleased, one of the balls 43 will roll into one-of the. notches 42 inthe collar 41, and will be engaged by one of the teeth 44 of the collarand one of the flanges 37 or 38, in a manner to lock the roller inposition upon the shaft 29 and prevent the action of the spring 33 fromrotating the roller torewind the curtain thereupon. 4

When it is desired to permit the spring 33 to rotate the roller andrewind the curtain thereupon, the curtain is first drawn down-' spring33 to rotate the roller with sufficient ing the movement of the curtain,the speed speed to maintain the balls 43 in the outer portions of thepockets 39, and prevent the engagement of the balls 43 with the teeth 44of the collar 41 until the curtain has reached the desired position,whereupon, by retardof the roller being turned by the spring 33 will bedecreased sufficiently to permit one of the balls 43 to rengage one ofthe teeth 44 and prevent the further rotation of the roller by theaction-of the spring 33, as previously explained.

I claim 1. The combination with a roller comprising abody portion formedof sheet metal bent into substantially tubular form having a bentportion forming a longitudinal slot therein, said bent portionterminating inwardly of one end of said body portion and an end headhaving an inner face engaged with said bentportion, said body portionhaving a bent part holding said end head in place, of a curtain having aportion extending into said slot, and means for holding said curtain inengagement with said roller. 2. The combination with a roller comprisinga body portion having end heads secured thereto, said body portion beingformed of sheet metal bent into substantially tubular form bringing itslongitudinal edge portions ad'acent each other, said edge portions beingfirst bent and extended inwardly and in directions away from each otherand then bent and extended toward each other forming an undercut grooveinthe roller, of a curtain having a portion extendwardly, between andinto engagement withthe end portions of the flange.

4. In a curtain roller,-. a body portion formed of sheet metal bent intosubstantially tubular form, a spring for rotating the body portion, andmeans to prevent the actuatlon of the body portion by said spring, saidmeans including an element within and fixed to one end of the bodyportion, said.

body portion having parts bent into engagement with said element, and anend head surrounding said element, said body portion having parts bentinto engagement with the end head.

, 5. In a curtain roller, a body portion formed of sheet metal bent intosubstantially the curtain in engage tubular form, a spring for rotatingthe body portion, and means to prevent the actuation of the body portionby said spring, said means including an element within and fixed to oneend of the body portion, said body portion having parts bent intoengagement with said element, and an end head surrounding said element,said end .head

having a slot formed therein and said body portion being provided with aprojection extending through said slot and bent into engagement with theend head.

6. In a curtain roller, a body portion formedof sheet metal bent intosubstantially tubular form, bringing its longitudinal edge slottherebetween, a spring for rotating the body portion, and means toprevent the actuation of the body portion by said spring,-

portions adjacent each other and forming a i a slot therebetween, aspring for rotating the body portion, and means to prevent theelementhaving a part extending into said slot, said elementbeing engaged -withthe v inner wall of the body portion and having a part extending intosaid slot, and said body portion having parts bent into engagement withsaid element.

8. In a curtain roller, the combination of a body portion having anopening therein, a shaft within the body portlon and extending beyondone end thereof, a toothed collar fixed to said shaft, a headsurrounding said shaft and having a art engaging a wall of said openingand preventing the body portionfrom turning relatively to the head, saidhead having a pocket formed therein adjacent said collar, 9. ball withinsaid pocket and movable into and out of engagement with said collar, anda spring exerting pressure in one direction against said shaft and in areverse direction against said head.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES AUGUSTUS CARMANY. Witnesses: HARRY S. WOODWARD,

F. P. ZOOK.

